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DHS Sets Fixed, Shorter Limits on Student, Exchange and Journalist Visas

The department says the rule is meant to ease pressure on its ability to monitor rising nonimmigrant admissions, with the regulation subject to congressional review.

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Overview

  • The Department of Homeland Security issued a final rule on Thursday, July 16, 2026 that fixes admission periods for F (students), J (exchange visitors) and I (journalists) visa holders.
  • Under the rule student and exchange visitors will be limited to a maximum of four years of admission while journalists will be limited to 240 days and to 90 days for Chinese nationals.
  • The rule becomes effective 60 days after it appears in the Federal Register but remains open to review by Congress and legal or political challenges.
  • Visa holders who want to stay beyond their new admission period must apply to DHS for an extension or leave and re-enter the United States to obtain a new admission period.
  • DHS justified the change by citing a large rise in entries—about 1.8 million student admissions in 2024 plus hundreds of thousands of exchange and media visitors—and the rule is part of broader immigration steps taken by the Trump administration that could increase administrative burdens for universities, sponsors and news organizations.